1.Revealing VCAN as a Potential Common Diagnostic Biomarker of Renal Tubules and Glomerulus in Diabetic Kidney Disease Based on Machine Learning, Single-Cell Transcriptome Analysis and Mendelian Randomization
Li JIANG ; Jie JIAN ; Xulin SAI ; Xiai WU
Diabetes & Metabolism Journal 2025;49(3):407-420
Background:
Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is recognized as a significant complication of diabetes mellitus and categorized into glomerular DKDs and tubular DKDs, each governed by distinct pathological mechanisms and biomarkers.
Methods:
Through the identification of common features observed in glomerular and tubular lesions in DKD, numerous differentially expressed gene were identified by the machine learning, single-cell transcriptome and mendelian randomization.
Results:
The diagnostic markers versican (VCAN) was identified, offering supplementary options for clinical diagnosis. VCAN significantly highly expressed in glomerular parietal epithelial cell and proximal convoluted tubular cell. It was mainly involved in the up-regulation of immune genes and infiltration of immune cells like mast cell. Mendelian randomization analysis confirmed that serum VCAN protein levels were a risky factor for DKD, while there was no reverse association. It exhibited the good diagnostic potential for estimated glomerular filtration rate and proteinuria in DKD.
Conclusion
VCAN showed the prospects into DKD pathology and clinical indicator.
2.Revealing VCAN as a Potential Common Diagnostic Biomarker of Renal Tubules and Glomerulus in Diabetic Kidney Disease Based on Machine Learning, Single-Cell Transcriptome Analysis and Mendelian Randomization
Li JIANG ; Jie JIAN ; Xulin SAI ; Xiai WU
Diabetes & Metabolism Journal 2025;49(3):407-420
Background:
Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is recognized as a significant complication of diabetes mellitus and categorized into glomerular DKDs and tubular DKDs, each governed by distinct pathological mechanisms and biomarkers.
Methods:
Through the identification of common features observed in glomerular and tubular lesions in DKD, numerous differentially expressed gene were identified by the machine learning, single-cell transcriptome and mendelian randomization.
Results:
The diagnostic markers versican (VCAN) was identified, offering supplementary options for clinical diagnosis. VCAN significantly highly expressed in glomerular parietal epithelial cell and proximal convoluted tubular cell. It was mainly involved in the up-regulation of immune genes and infiltration of immune cells like mast cell. Mendelian randomization analysis confirmed that serum VCAN protein levels were a risky factor for DKD, while there was no reverse association. It exhibited the good diagnostic potential for estimated glomerular filtration rate and proteinuria in DKD.
Conclusion
VCAN showed the prospects into DKD pathology and clinical indicator.
3.Revealing VCAN as a Potential Common Diagnostic Biomarker of Renal Tubules and Glomerulus in Diabetic Kidney Disease Based on Machine Learning, Single-Cell Transcriptome Analysis and Mendelian Randomization
Li JIANG ; Jie JIAN ; Xulin SAI ; Xiai WU
Diabetes & Metabolism Journal 2025;49(3):407-420
Background:
Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is recognized as a significant complication of diabetes mellitus and categorized into glomerular DKDs and tubular DKDs, each governed by distinct pathological mechanisms and biomarkers.
Methods:
Through the identification of common features observed in glomerular and tubular lesions in DKD, numerous differentially expressed gene were identified by the machine learning, single-cell transcriptome and mendelian randomization.
Results:
The diagnostic markers versican (VCAN) was identified, offering supplementary options for clinical diagnosis. VCAN significantly highly expressed in glomerular parietal epithelial cell and proximal convoluted tubular cell. It was mainly involved in the up-regulation of immune genes and infiltration of immune cells like mast cell. Mendelian randomization analysis confirmed that serum VCAN protein levels were a risky factor for DKD, while there was no reverse association. It exhibited the good diagnostic potential for estimated glomerular filtration rate and proteinuria in DKD.
Conclusion
VCAN showed the prospects into DKD pathology and clinical indicator.
4.Revealing VCAN as a Potential Common Diagnostic Biomarker of Renal Tubules and Glomerulus in Diabetic Kidney Disease Based on Machine Learning, Single-Cell Transcriptome Analysis and Mendelian Randomization
Li JIANG ; Jie JIAN ; Xulin SAI ; Xiai WU
Diabetes & Metabolism Journal 2025;49(3):407-420
Background:
Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is recognized as a significant complication of diabetes mellitus and categorized into glomerular DKDs and tubular DKDs, each governed by distinct pathological mechanisms and biomarkers.
Methods:
Through the identification of common features observed in glomerular and tubular lesions in DKD, numerous differentially expressed gene were identified by the machine learning, single-cell transcriptome and mendelian randomization.
Results:
The diagnostic markers versican (VCAN) was identified, offering supplementary options for clinical diagnosis. VCAN significantly highly expressed in glomerular parietal epithelial cell and proximal convoluted tubular cell. It was mainly involved in the up-regulation of immune genes and infiltration of immune cells like mast cell. Mendelian randomization analysis confirmed that serum VCAN protein levels were a risky factor for DKD, while there was no reverse association. It exhibited the good diagnostic potential for estimated glomerular filtration rate and proteinuria in DKD.
Conclusion
VCAN showed the prospects into DKD pathology and clinical indicator.
5.Analysis of chromosome aberration in peripheral blood lymphocytes of underground miners in non-uranium metal mines
Di WU ; Ping WANG ; Lin HAN ; Yanfang ZHAO ; Zuchang ZHAO ; Jie LI ; Shasha DU ; Xiai WANG ; Yunfei ZHANG ; Fengling ZHAO ; Yumin LYU
Chinese Journal of Radiological Medicine and Protection 2022;42(12):915-921
Objective:To investigate chromosomal aberrations in peripheral blood lymphocytes of underground miners, in order to explore the influencing factors involved in chromosomal aberration levels of non-uranium metal mines.Methods:Totall 135 workers were recruited from an iron mine and a gold mine located in different cities of Henan province, where 69 workers worked aboveground and 66 miners worked underground in the metal mines. The radon concentration in the mines was measured by solid-state nuclear track detectors. Chromosomal aberrations in peripheral blood lymphocytes from the subjects were detected using conventional analysis method, and the influence factors of chromosomal aberrations were analyzed.Results:Radon concentration was 30-2 943 Bq/m 3 in the aboveground workplace of the mines, and 62-28 314 Bq/m 3 in underground. The age of the underground group was obviously lower than that of the aboveground group( t=2.12, P<0.05), but the frequencies of dicentrics, translocation, acentric fragment, and total chromosome-type aberrations in the underground group were significantly higher than those in the aboveground group ( χ2=10.49, 16.74, 8.15, 29.50, P<0.01). Consistent results were obtained when only male workers were regarded as object of observation ( χ2=8.44, 11.63, 4.94, 20.81, P<0.05). The frequency of translocation ( χ2=8.44, P<0.05) was dependent on the length of service in the underground group. Poisson regression analysis indicated that the aboveground and undergroud grouping partly affected the levels of dicentrics, translocation, acentric fragment, and total chromosome-type aberrations (the underground group IRR=3.25, 2.69, 1.97, 2.18, P<0.05). Conclusions:The radon exposure in the underground workplace of the metal mines may be the main factor resulting in the increase of chromosome-type aberrations of miners. The occupational health and safety of the miners who may be exposed to high radon levels are worthy of great attention.